dec_17__1981.html

Pix #1 - The bicycle which M.W. Abbott bought at Copley's
bike shop in 1910, and rode to work at Mennel Mill.

Pix #2 - M.W. Abbott

Today's feature photos will remind readers of the bicycles
of many years ago, and of a Fostoria resident who rode one all around
town.

The person was Marion Whitney Abbott, whom many readers
will remember.

The bicycle was purchaed at F.A. Copley's bicycle shop
in 1910, and was featured in one of Copley's advertisements in The Review
many years ago, with Abbott standing beside his trusty vehicle. Copley's
was one of many bike shops in Fostoria back then, and he was a color-figure
around town. He sponsored bike races for the youth as well as other
activities involving bikes.

The old advertisement of Abbott and his bike was provided
recently by Lyndon Abbott, Dayton, his son. It was not suitable for
reproduction so we had the RT photograph the old bike, now at the Fostoira
Area Historical Society Museum. Lyndon has kept his father's bike for
years, but finally decided it should be part of the memorabilia at the
museum, and presented it as a gift.

Mr. Whitney was an employee of Mennel Milling Co. for
more than 60 years, until his retirement and death in 1955. He started
at the mill in 1893 in the shipping department and was office manager
when he retired. He rode his bike daily to work from his residence on
Maple Street. Abbott and his bike was almost a "trademark".

During his active years in Fostoria he was a Kiwanian,
being a charter member also a member of the Methodist Church and all
the Masonic bodies in Fostoria.

FEEDBACK NORTH MAIN ARTICLE

In it was listed various ones who played the piano and
organ at the Buck's Colonial Theatre. A message from Mildred (Shlatter)
Chesley, Melbourne, Fl., informed me that she also performed at that
job. The new Wurlitzer organ was amazing then, she said. It had stops
for all the sound effects. When I substituted for Lauda Buck (sister
of Ural and Arthur), I would study and practice with the sound script
which accompanied the movie (Cue Sheet). It was fun. Your article brought
this out of my memory bank. I enjoy your articles.

ALLEN MOTOR STORY

Allen Swedenborg, La Mesa, Ca., grandson of E.W. Allen,
wrote an interesting letter to Potluck author after reading the article,
part of which is reprinted here:

Dear Mr. Krupp: It was good to hear from you again, and
it is indeed nice to know that the history of the Allens of Fostoria
is being so carefully remembered. The articles were especially interesting
to me because my mother (Clara Louise Allen) was not at all precise
about the facts of her father's business, although she and Walter Allen,
a cousin, loved to reminisce and banter names of Fostoria people back
and forth. I grew up with this Ohio talk always in the background at
Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. But she was never real clear on
the chain of events outside the social.

I learned things from your articles which I never knew,
e.g. exact dates, the cars quality and prices, and how surprisingly
few are left.

Mr. John Allen, a second cousin of my mother, purchased
an Allen maybe 8-10 years ago, and was still in possession of it two
years ago.

I really hope to visit Fostoria before too many years
go by. I only passed through once as a teenager driving a dilapidated
Ford from Ashtabula to Los Angeles. On that next visit of mine I'll
have to take my first look at an Allen car.

Thank you in your thoughtfulness in sending the articles.

SOUTH MAIN STREET STORY

That article brought a welcome letter from Mrs. Marie
(Fred) Yaryan, Los Andeles, Calif., whom many readers will remember,
part of which is reprinted:

Dear Mr. Krupp: a former Fostorian and a California resident
since 1944, and a Review subscriber these many years, I have enjoyed
Potluck so very much.

Thursday, Nov. 5, 1981, was a special interest to me.
The picture of the South Main Street block brought back many memories.
In 1915 when Fred Yaryan and I were married it was called the German
Block, and the middle apartment was our first home. My cousin, S.W.
Jacobs, who was agent for American Express Co., and his wife in one
apartment and Mr. and Mrs. Shannon Faush and daughter in the other one.

At that time the cigar factory was there. Across the street
from Myers Plumbing was Blazer Grocery and Dr. Leonard Hospital.

Mr. Yaryan and Fred Davis who was married to Doris Steele
both came to Fostoria from Anderson, Ind., to work for Allen Motor Co.,
and were the first roomers in the YMCA.

I was a native of Findlay and came to Fostoria in 1911
to make my home with my aunt and uncle, Robert P. Lingenfelter, and
worked for the Ohio Bell Telephone Co. My husband passed away 22 years
ago.

I still speak of Fostoria at home and truly enjoy the
paper, reading about the many changes and most of all Potluck. I pass
the paper to relatives in southern California. Perhaps some readers
will remember Tim Carmen as a Fostoria football player. Again Thanks
for Potluck.

LONGFELLOW SCHOOL

That story brought a number of responses from readers,
especially those who attended that school. Here are a few:

Edith Masel, 832 N. Cherly Dr., told me that the school
was always known as "Longfellow". I had said it acquired that name when
the new school was built. Sorry! I had always known it as "Sandusky
Street School" When the new school was built, it had "Longfellow" prominently
displayed and that name became the common reference. Mrs. Madel went
to school there.

Ralph Gee, Risingsun, telephoned to say he was glad to
see that photo of his old school in print. He remembered that Fan O.
Harris was principal...also a Miss Hill was one of the teachers. He
especially recalled that Walter Dye was the janitor when he attended,
and that he was killed in a fall from a scaffold at the high school,
while doing maintenance work.

Willis Wyant, West South Street, also was one of the readers
who recalled the accidental death of Dye. He said that the plank on
which Dye was standing while doing painting at a high elevation, broke,
and the fall resulted in a broken neck.

Mrs. Clifford Myers, Elm Street, who attended Longfellow
school all six years, was another reader who reported pleasure in seeing
her old school in print.